Israel on Tuesday carried out strikes on Qatar's Doha targeting senior Hamas officials, Al Arabiya reported citing Israeli officials, APA reports.
Preliminary information obtained by Al Arabiya indicates that Hamas’s chief Negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, was killed in the Israeli strike in Qatar.
The Israeli military confirmed later that it targeted senior Hamas leaders.
"The IDF (Israeli military) and ISA (security agency) conducted a precise strike targeting the senior leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization," the military said, without specifying where the strike took place.
A Source from Hamas told Al Arabiya that the negotiating delegation was targeted during its meeting in Qatar, where the Palestinian group's political bureau is based.
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17:22
In a statement, the IDF and Shin Bet announce targeting Hamas’s leadership in a strike carried out by the Israeli Air Force, APA reports, citing Times of Israel.
The statement does not explicitly mention Qatar, but comes following reports of large explosions in Doha, where Hamas’s top leadership resides.
“The members of the leadership who were struck led the terror organization’s activities for years, and are directly responsible for carrying out the October 7 massacre and waging the war against the State of Israel,” the statement says.
The military says it took steps to mitigate civilian harm in the strike, including by using precision munitions and other intelligence.
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17:06
Israeli army radio said Israel tried to attack Hamas officials in Qatar on Tuesday, APA reports, citing Reuters.
Qatar's Al Jazeera television, citing a Hamas source, said the attack targeted Hamas Gaza ceasefire negotiators.
Several blasts were heard in Qatar's Doha on Tuesday, Reuters witnesses said.
Israel media, citing a senior Israeli official, said the attack was aimed at top Hamas leaders including Khalil al-Hayya, its Gaza chief.
Smoke was seen rising over the Katara District in the capital, an eyewitness said.
